Kenpo comes, it is believed, from Chinese martial arts, landed in Japan in 1600, in Okinawa.

The Nippon Kenpo was founded in 1932 by Masaru Muneomi, who believes the Judo to be weak because of poor shots, and Karate

to be weak as lacking in real combat, but based essentially only on kata. The introduction of a harness Kendo style, was the real innovation (the precursor of all the various Kick boxing that came afterwards) This form of competitive Karate has proliferated in Japan, then spread around the world, thanks to teachers like Ryonosuke Mori.

Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu is a summary and a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic fighting arts transmitted in Okinawa in the last period of the old Ryukyu Kingdom.

Shorinji Kempo is a Japanese martial art which is considered as a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu. It was established in 1947 by Doshin So.

Hawaiian Kempo. In 1985, John Hackleman moved from Hawaii to California, founded a school (the Pit) and renamed the art that he teaches in Hawaii (Kajukenbo) to Hawaiian Kempo Hawaiian Kempo blends kickboxing, western boxing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Kempo,and wrestling, and places a heavy emphasis on "Crossfit.